Fluid actuator device

ABSTRACT

A fluid actuator device for use in combination with apparatus to control the supply of a fluid such as air delivered thereto during its course of operation, for ejecting stamped parts and/or slugs, molded parts, for directing material through a stamping die and various other operations where a controlled air stream or blast is required. The fluid actuator device is mechanical in operation, hence eliminating the need of an electrical source coupled to it, as in the case of, for example, microswitches.

Unite States Patent 1191 1111 3,872,

Holton Mar. 25, 1975 FLUID ACTUATOR DEVICE 2,355,556 8/1944 Peterson l00/2l8 ux 2,579,940 12/1951 Lobrovich 83/98 x [76] Inventor: Morris J. Bolton, 60 Golf Rd, Golf,

6029 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite [22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1974 I Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dominik, Knechtel, Godula 21 App]. N0.I 440,512

57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 100/218, 72/427, 83/98, 1

- 425/437 A fluid actuator device for use in combination with [51] Int. CL B30!) 15/32 apparatus to control the supply of a fluid such as air [58] Field 83/98 delivered thereto during its course of operation, for

A ejecting stamped parts and/or slugs, molded parts, for

directing material through a stamping die and various [56] References Cited other operations where a controlled air stream or blast is required. The fluid actuator device is mechanical in UNITED STATES PATENTS operation, hence eliminating the need of an electrical 2,125,480 Avery ource oupled to it as in the ase of for exam le 2,251,135 7/1941 Iknayan et al. 249/66 A x microswitches 2,313,525 3/1943 Edelman l. 83/98 2,3 17,839 4/1943 Westin 249/66 A X 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FLUID ACTUATOR DEVICE This invention relates to an improved fluid actuator device for use in combination with apparatus having a fixed and a movable bed, for controlling the supply of a fluid such as air delivered to the apparatus, during the course of operation thereof.

The air actuator device of the invention is particularly applicable for use in combination with apparatus of the above type for controlling the supply of air delivered thereto during its course of operation, for ejecting stamped parts and/or slugs, molded parts, for directing material through a stamping die and various other operations where a controlled air stream or blast is required. In the past, these types of operations normally have been controlled by microswitches which are affixed to and operated by the apparatus. The microswitches, in turn, control other valves or the like which control the flow of the fluid to the apparatus.

The use of electrically operated devices such as microswitches requires a source of electrical power to be coupled with them. In many cases, such a source is not readily available and, therefore, the proper electrical wiring must be provided. Doing so normally requires the skills of an experienced electrician, thus adding substantially to the cost of any installation. On the other hand, a source of fluid such as compressed air or oil normally must be coupled with the apparatus for its operation, regardless if a source of electrical power is coupled with it. Accordingly, under the circumstances,

substantial savings in both time and cost can be provided in any installation, if a non-electrically operated device can be provided for controlling the supply of fluid to the apparatus, for these types of operations.

A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved fluid actuator device which is mechanically and not electrically operated, for controlling the supply of a fluid delivered to apparatus, during the course of operation of the apparatus.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view generally illustrating an air actuator device exemplary of the invention affixed to a molding apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view, illustrating the construction of the air actuator device; and

FIGS. 3-5 are sectional views generally illustrating the manner in which the air actuator device operates.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is illustrated a portion of a molding apparatus having a fixed or stationary bed and a movable bed 11. The respective die and mold halves are fixed to these beds 10 and 11, and operate in conjunction with them as the mold is opened and closed. In the illustrated embodiment, a mold cavity 13 is illustrated as being formed in the mold half 12 affixed to the fixed or stationary bed 10. With molding apparatus of this type, in many cases, it is necessary to provide a short blast of compressed air or the like to eject a molded part from the mold cavity 13, as the mold halves are opened. As indicated above, in many cases, the blast of compressed air was controlled by means of a microswitch or the like associated with the molding apparatus and arranged to be operated as the mold halves opened and closed. The use of such microswitches and other similar electrically operated devices requires that a source: of power be coupled to the molding apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention, a mechanically operated air actuator device 14 is coupled with the molding apparatus, and is operable to control the supply of fluid such as air to the apparatus during its course of operation. The air actuator device 14 includes'a plunger 15 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is fixed to the movable bed 11 and an air switch assembly 16 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is affixed to the fixed or stationary bed 10 thereof. It will be apparent from the description below that the posi tion of the plunger 15 and the air switch assembly 16 can be reversed, if desired. Also, in the illustrated em bodiment, the air switch assembly 16 is illustrated as being formed as an integral part of the mold half 12 affixed to the stationary bed 10, however, under normal circumstances, the air actuator device 14 preferably and advantageously has the plunger 15 and the air switch assembly 16 affixed to the stationary bed 10 and the movable bed 11, in operable relationship with one another. In other words, instead of specially forming the mold halves 12 to receive the plunger 15 and the air switch assembly 16, the latter are separately formed and affixed to the beds of the molding apparatus, in operable relationship with one another.

In FIG. 2, the construction of the air switch assembly 16 is shown and it can be seen to include a housing 19 which preferably is a solid block of material such as metal having a slotted cavity 20 formed therein for receiving a lever trigger assembly 21 and a bore 22 for receiving therethrough the plunger 15, as described more fully below. A top plate or cover 23 is affixed to the housing 19, by means of set screws 24 or the like. The top plate 23 has a keyhole-like slot 25 formed therein for receiving the plunger 15 and for exposing a portion of the lever trigger assembly 21.

The lever trigger assembly 21 includes an elongated generally rectangular-shaped lever arm 28 which is pivotally secured within the slotted cavity 20 by means of a pivot pin 29 disposed in one end thereof, so that the lever arm 23 rotatably pivots back and forth, about its one end. A stop pin 30 is provided within the slotted cavity 20 and is engaged by the upper end of the lever arm 28 to control its forward most position.

A trigger lever 32 is pivotally secured by means of a pivot pin 33 within a generally centrally disposed slotted cavity 31 within the lever arm 28. The trigger lever 32 is generally triangular shaped, with a portion of its base abutted against the face of the lever arm 28 and with its apex disposed within the bore 22 so as to be engaged by the plunger 15, as more fully described below. An extension on the base of the trigger lever 32 extends into the slotted cavity 31 and is bored to receive the pivot pin 33.

The lever arm 28 and the trigger lever 32 both are provided with a bore for receiving therein a biasing means 35 in the form of a helical spring which has its opposite ends secured by means of retaining pins 36 and 37. The biasing means or spring 35 normally biases the base of the trigger lever 32 against the face of the lever arm 23, as illustrated.

The plunger 15 has a plunger sleeve affixed to it which has its upper and lower ends rounded to provide a camming surface which engages the rounded apex of the trigger lever 32, to operate the latter as more fully described below. The plunger sleeve 40 is positionally secured on the plunger 15, by means of a pin 41 extended through a bore in it, and one of a series of cross holes 42 in the plunger 15, as more fully described below. The plunger sleeve 40 is of a length which is proportioned to provide a blast of compressed air for a predetermined time interval, in a manner described more fully below. Accordingly, a number of theplunger sleeves 40 normally are provided, with each being of a different length so various different time intervals can be established. Each of these plunger sleeves is adapted to be inserted onto the plunger and then secured in position thereon, in the manner described above.

The lever arm 28, upon being pivotally operated, engages the end of a cylinder-shaped piston valve 44 to operate it, as described below. The piston valve 44 has a head portion 45 which is slidably received within a bore 49 extending longitudinally through the housing 19 of the air actuator device 14. The opposite end of the piston valve 44 is formed with a valve seat portion 47 and, between the end portion 45 and the valve seat portion 47 there is a reduced diameter portion 46. Progress'ively larger diameter bores 60 and 61 concentric with the bore 49 are formed in the housing 19. The innermost end of the bore 61 is provided with a valve seat 50 which may be of nylon or the like, with the same being retained in operative relationship with the valve seat portion 47 on the piston valve 44, by means of a threaded seating ring 51. The opposite end of the bore 61 is closed by means of a threaded plug 55. An O-ring 58 can be disposed between the housing 19 and the plug 55, to seal the bore 61 when the plug 55 is threaded into the housing 19. A cavity 56 is formed in the plug 55. Biasing means in the form of a helical spring 53 is provided within the bore 61, with its one end seated within the cavity 56 in the plug 55 and with its other end engaged with the valve seat portion 47 of the piston valve 44. The spring 53 normally biases the piston valve 44 to seatingly engage its valve seat portion 47 with the valve seat 50, to close or block the bore 60. A slot 57 for a screwdriver or the like can be provided in the terminal end of the plug 55, for removing and replacing it. An air inlet 63 is provided into the bore 61, and an air outlet 64 is provided into the bore 60. The air inlet 63, in the illustrated embodiment, is coupled with a source of compressed air and the air outlet 64 is coupled with a tubing 65 (FIG. 1) having its end disposed within the cavity 13 in the mold half 12. In operation, in the illustrated embodiment, when the piston valve 44 is operated to open, the compressed air is allowed to flow from the bore 61 into the bore 60, and from there through the tubing 65 to provide a blast of air for ejecting molded parts from the cavity 13.

Now that the construction of the air actuator device 14 has been described, its operation may be described as follows. As indicated above, the plunger 15 and the air switch assembly 16 are affixed to the movable and stationary beds in any suitable fashion, so that the plunger 15 extends into and through the bore 22, as the mold halves close. In the illustrated embodiment, the air actuator device 14 is usedto control the supply of compressed air to the cavity 13 to eject a molded part therefrom, hence the air actuator device 14 is positioned to be operated on the upstroke, or when the mold halves are being opened.

Accordingly, for the purpose of explaining the operation of the air actuator device 14, assume that the mold halves are closed and that the plunger sleeve 40 on the plunger 15 have been extended through the bore 22, to the position illustrated in FIG. 2. As the mold halves open, it can be seen that the plunger 15 and hence the plunger sleeve 40 moves upwardly through the bore 22, and the end of the plunger sleeve 40 engages the end of the trigger lever 32 and forces the end of it out of the bore 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3. When the trigger lever 32 is engaged by the plunger sleeve 40, a portion of its base is forcibly engaged against the face of the lever arm 28, causing it to pivot rearwardly within the slotted cavity 20, about the pivot pin 29. The lever arm 28, in pivoting, engages the end of the piston valve 44, to unseat the valve seat portion 47 from the valve seat 50, against the action of the biasing spring 53. With the piston valve 44 open, the compressed air is permitted to flow in through the air inlet 63, through the bore 61. into the bore 60, and out of the air outlet 64, to provide a blast of compressed air to eject the molded part from the cavity 13. The blast of compressed air continues until the plunger sleeve 40 is withdrawn from the bore 22, and disengages from its contact with the trigger lever 32, as illustrated in FIG. 4. At this time, the biasing spring 53 again seats the valve seat portion 47 with the valve seat 50, to close the piston valve 44 and cut off the supply of compressed air from the bore 61 into the bore 60. The lever arm 28 pivots forwardly within the slotted cavity 20, until it engages against the stop pin 30.,

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the time duration of the blast of compressed air is dependent upon the overall length of the plunger sleeve 40 affixed to the plunger 15. In other words, the longer the length of the plunger sleeve 40, the longer will be the duration of the blast of compressed air. Accordingly, by changing the length of the plunger sleeve 40, the time duration of the blast of compressed air can be lengthened or shortened. Also, the time at which the blast of compressed air is provided can be controlled by the position of the plunger sleeve 40 on the plunger 15, i.e., by raising or lowering the plunger sleeve 40 on the plunger sleeve 15.

On the next downstroke of the plunger 15, when the mold halves are closed, the plunger 15 and the plunger sleeve 40 thereon are again extended through the bore 22 in the air switch assembly 16. At this time, however, when the plunger sleeve 40 engages the trigger lever 32, it is caused to pivot downwardly about the pivot pin 33, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In pivoting in this fashion. the base of the trigger lever 32 does not engage or operate the lever arm 28 to actuate the piston valve 44, thus the valve remains closed. When the plunger sleeve 40 passes beyond the trigger lever 32, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the biasing spring 35 causes the trigger lever 32 to again pivot about the pivot pin 33 so that its base portion is engaged against the face of the lever arm 28. Now, when the plunger 15 and the plunger sleeve 44 are again drawn upwardly through the bore 22, as in FIG. 3, the lever trigger assembly 21 is again operated to engage the piston valve 44 to open it.

From the above description it can be seen that the air actuator device is operative to provide a'blast of air at a predetermined time during the sequence of operation of the molding apparatus, by merely properly positioning the plunger sleeve 40 on the plunger 15. Also, by

properly proportioning the length of the plunger sleeve 40, the length or duration of the blast of compressed air also is adjustable. The operation is mechanical in operation, hence no electrical power is required, as in the past. Further still, while the air actuator device 14 is illustrated to be operable on the upstroke of the plunger 15, it is readily apparent that the operation of the device can be made to operate on the downstroke of the plunger 15, merely by turning the air switch assembly 16 upside down. Further still, while in the illustrated embodiment, the air actuator device 14 is used to control a blast of compressed air to eject a part from the mold, it can as well be used to eject stamped parts and- /or slugs, or to direct material through a stamping die, or for various other operations where a controlled air stream or blast is required.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and certain changes may be made in the above construction. Accordingly, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with apparatus having a stationary bed and a movable bed, a fluid actuator device for controlling the supply of a fluid to said apparatus to eject a workpiece therefrom during the course of operation thereof comprising, in combination: a plunger affixed to one of said stationary and movable beds, a fluid switch assembly affixed to the other one of said stationary and movable beds having a house, a bore extending through said housing for receiving therethrough said plunger as said movable bed is moved relative to said stationary bed, a lever trigger assembly within said housing having a lever arm pivotally affixed with respect to said housing and a trigger lever pivotally affixed to said lever arm in a position and fashion such as to pivotally operate said lever arm when said plunger is extended through said bore in one direction and to permit said plunger to pass through said bore in the other direction without said lever arm being pivotally operated, and a piston valve for controlling fluid flow through said fluid switch assembly to said apparatus, said piston valve normally being biased closed to block fluid flow therethrough and being operated by said lever arm when the latter is pivotally operated by said trigger lever to permit fluid flow therethrough.

2. The fluid actuator device of claim 1, further including plunger sleeve means on said plunger for operating said trigger lever, said plunger sleeve means being adjustably positioned along the length of said plunger and thereby controlling the time of operation of said trigger lever as said plunger is extended through said bore.

3. The fluid actuator device of claim 2, wherein the length of said plunger sleeve means determines the time duration of the operation of said trigger lever.

4. The fluid actuator device of claim 3, further including a plurality of said plunger sleeve means each of a different length, whereby the time duration of the operation of said trigger lever is variable.

5. The fluid actuator device of claim 1, further including plunger sleeve means on said plunger for operating said trigger lever, the position and length of said plunger sleeve means both being adjustable, whereby the time of and the duration of the operation of said trigger lever can be variably controlled.

6. The fluid actuator device of claim 1, wherein said fluid switch assembly is adapted to be reversibly affixed to the other one of said stationary and movable beds, whereby said fluid actuator device can be made to operate on the downstroke or on the upstroke of said apparatus.

7. The fluid actuator device of claim 1, further including stop means, one end of said piston valve being engaged with said lever arm and normally biasing it against said stop means, an end of said trigger lever being disposed within said bore to be engaged by said plunger when said lever arm is biased against said stop means.

8. The fluid actuator device of claim 7, further comprising biasing means normally biasing said trigger lever in operative relationship with said lever arm. whereby said lever arm is pivotally operated by said trigger lever when said plunger is extended through said bore in said one direction, said plunger in being extended through said bore in the other direction operating said trigger lever against said biasing means out of operative engagement with said lever arm.

9. The fluid actuator device of claim 8, wherein said biasing means comprises a helical spring.

10. The fluid actuator device of claim 9, further including plunger sleeve means on said plunger for operating said trigger lever, the position and the length of said plunger sleeve means both being adjustable, whereby the time of and the duration of the operation of said trigger lever can be variably controlled. 

1. In combination with apparatus having a stationary bed and a movable bed, a fluid actuator device for controlling the supply of a fluid to said apparatus to eject a workpiece therefrom during the course of operation thereof comprising, in combination: a plunger affixed to one of said stationary and movable beds, a fluid switch assembly affixed to the other one of said stationary and movable beds having a house, a bore extending through said housing for receiving therethrough said plunger as said movable bed is moved relative to said stationary bed, a lever trigger assembly within said housing having a lever arm pivotally affixed with respect to said housing and a trigger lever pivotally affixed to said lever arm in a position and fashion such as to pivotally operate said lever arm when said plunger is extended through said bore in one direction and to permit said plunger to pass through said bore in the other direction without said lever arm being pivotally operated, and a piston valve for controlling fluid flow through said fluid switch assembly to said apparatus, said piston valve normally being biased closed to block fluid flow therethrough and being operated by said lever arm when the latter is pivotally operated by said trigger lever to permit fluid flow therethrough.
 2. The fluid actuator device of claim 1, further including plunger sleeve means on said plunger for operating said trigger lever, said plunger sleeve means being adjustably positioned along the length of said plunger and thereby controlling the time of operation of said trigger lever as said plunger is extended through said bore.
 3. The fluid actuator device of claim 2, wherein the length of said plunger sleeve means determines the time duration of the operation of said trigger lever.
 4. The fluid actuator device of claim 3, further including a plurality of said plunger sleeve means each of a different length, whereby the time duration of the operation of said trigger lever is variable.
 5. The fluid actuator device of claim 1, further including plunger sleeve means on said plunger for operating said trigger lever, the position and length of said plunger sleeve means both being adjustable, whereby the time of and the duration of the operation of said trigger lever can be variably controlled.
 6. The fluid actuator device of claim 1, wherein said fluid switch assembly is adapted to be reversibly affixed to the other one of said stationary and movable beds, whereby said fluid actuator device can be made to operate on the downstroke or on the upstroke of said apparatus.
 7. The fluid actuator device of claim 1, further including stop means, one end of said piston valve being engaged with said lever arm and normally biasing it against said stop means, an end of said trigger lever being disposed within said bore to be engaged by said plunger when said lever arm is biased against said stop means.
 8. The fluid actuator device of claim 7, further comprising biasing means normally biasing said trigger lever in operative relationship with said lever arm, whereby said lever arm is pivotally operated by said trigger lever when said plunger is extended through said bore in said one direction, said plunger in being extended through said bore in the other direction opeRating said trigger lever against said biasing means out of operative engagement with said lever arm.
 9. The fluid actuator device of claim 8, wherein said biasing means comprises a helical spring.
 10. The fluid actuator device of claim 9, further including plunger sleeve means on said plunger for operating said trigger lever, the position and the length of said plunger sleeve means both being adjustable, whereby the time of and the duration of the operation of said trigger lever can be variably controlled. 